Camellia plant named ‘Classic Pink’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Camellia  named ‘Classic Pink’ that is characterized by exceptional cold-hardiness, an attractive compact plant form with very dark glossy green foliage, and formal double very pale pink flowers which are late to bloom. In combination these traits set ‘Classic Pink’ apart from all other existing varieties of  Camellia  known to the inventor.

Genus: Camellia.

Species: japonica.

Denomination: ‘Classic Pink’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Camelliathat is grown as an ornamental evergreen flowering shrub. The newcultivar is known botanically as Camellia japonica and will be referredto hereinafter by the cultivar name ‘Classic Pink’.

In 1962, the inventor commenced a Camellia breeding program whoseprimary objective was the development of varieties with significantlyincreased cold hardiness, thereby affording consumers in colder regionsthe opportunity to enjoy Camellias. In addition to breeding for greatercold tolerance, the inventor has sought to develop varieties with noveland attractive flower colors and forms, and increased resistance todisease. During the ensuing forty year period, many thousands ofunreleased hybrids have been developed by controlled crossing of parentsdrawn from named (commercially available) cultivars and also drawn fromthe inventor's own pool of unreleased varieties. Seedlings from thesecrosses were grown on into mature plants within the inventor's testgarden in Chapel Hill, N.C. Included in these grow-out trials wereseedlings resulting from a cross made in 1964, as described below,including a single seedling known to the inventor as Camellia 60-0-6.Camellia 60-0-6 was grown to a mature size, along with other selectionsfrom the breeding program, until it was eventually selected by theinventor after the winter of 1985, and later named ‘Classic Pink’.

The winter of 1985 was exceptionally severe for the Chapel Hill, N.C.vicinity. Minimum temperatures of −9 degrees Fahrenheit were recorded,at which temperatures Camellias are generally killed outright, ratherthan merely defoliated. Many large plants from the inventor's breedingprogram were killed outright under these conditions. A small number ofvarieties survived, including ‘Classic Pink’ which suffered no damage toits wood and only minor injury to the foliage. The inventor determinedthat ‘Classic Pink’ is inherently exceptionally cold hardy forCamellias.

‘Classic Pink’ arose as a single plant from a group of seedlingsresulting from the deliberate crossing made by the inventor in 1964between Camellia japonica ‘Kumasaka’ (unpatented) as male parent, andCamellia japonica ‘Berenice Boddy’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 605) as femaleparent.

‘Classic Pink’ differs from the parents as follows:

Camellia japonica ‘Kumasaka’ is a peony form of Camellia with rose-redflowers and good cold-hardiness, to USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. It is mid-to late-season blooming and has a compact growth habit.

Camellia japonica ‘Berenice Boddy’ is semi-double light pink floweredform of Camellia which is early- to mid-season blooming. It is not hardyin regions colder than USDA Hardiness Zone 7.

‘Classic Pink’ is at least as hardy as Camellia japonica ‘Kumasaka’ butlater blooming. In addition, the flowers of ‘Classic Pink’ are verylight pink: lighter pink and more formally double than Camellia japonica‘Berenice Boddy’.

The distinguishing traits of ‘Classic Pink’ are its exceptional coldhardiness combined with attractive plant form comprising compact growthand dark green leaves. The pale pink flowers are novel within the set ofcold hardy (to USDA Zone 6) Camellias known to the inventor. Thelateness of the bloom period for ‘Classic Pink’ allows ‘CLASSIC PINK’ tobetter avoid damage from late spring frosts.

The first asexual reproduction of ‘Classic Pink’ was conducted by theinventor in 1989 at the inventor's nursery and test garden in ChapelHill, N.C. The method used for asexual propagation was rooting ofsemi-hard internodal stem cuttings. The inventor has since determinedthat ‘Classic Pink’ reduces true to type in successive generations ofasexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new Camellia cultivar ‘Classic Pink’. Thesetraits in combination distinguish ‘Classic Pink’ from all othervarieties known to the inventor. ‘Classic Pink’ has not been testedunder all possible conditions and phenotypic differences may be observedwith variations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions,without however, any difference in genotype.

-   -   1. ‘Classic Pink’ is one of the most cold-hardy Camellias known        to the inventor. It has withstood temperatures of −9 degrees        Fahrenheit without injury, a temperature at which most Camellia        cultivars are killed outright.    -   2. ‘Classic Pink’ has an attractive compact plant form.    -   3. The foliage of ‘Classic Pink’ is very dark glossy green.    -   4. The flowers of ‘Classic Pink’ are very pale pink and formal        double in form, which combination is considered by the inventor        to be new to cold hardy Camellias.    -   5. ‘Classic Pink’ is sufficiently late to bloom that it mostly        avoids injury from late spring frosts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying two color drawings illustrate the overall appearance ofthe new cultivar ‘Classic Pink’ showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description, which accurately describe the actualcolors of the new variety of Camellia named ‘Classic Pink’.

The drawing labeled as FIG. 1 (on sheet 1) illustrates a 30 months old(from a cutting) plant of ‘CLASSIC PINK’ growing in a one galloncontainer.

The drawing labeled as FIG. 2 (on sheet 2) illustrates a close-up viewof a single flower of ‘Classic Pink’.

All drawings were made using conventional techniques and although colorsmay appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance theyare as accurate as possible by conventional photography.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of ‘Classic Pink’ as grown in anopen-sided unheated polythene tunnel structure in Chapel Hill, N.C. Datawas collected in March and April from plants approximately four yearsold and growing in a 3 gallon container. The color determinations are inaccordance with the 1995 Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart of TheRoyal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general colorterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The growingrequirements are similar to the species.

-   Family: Theaceae.-   Botanical classification: Camellia japonica.-   Genus: Camellia.-   Species: Japonica.-   Variety denomination: ‘Classic Pink’.-   Common name: Japanese Camellia.-   Use: Evergreen flowering plant for the landscape.-   Container size: Suggested container sizes for planting: 1 gallon, 3    gallon, and above.-   Cultural requirements: Plant in woodland setting, sun to partial    shade with regular water and well-drained acidic to neutral soil.-   Parentage: Camellia japonica ‘Kumasaka’ (Male parent). Camellia    japonica ‘Berenice Boddy’ (Female parent).-   Plant description:    -   -   Bloom period.—Flowers start to open in mid-March and            continue blooming until early May. Peak bloom is in April.        -   Plant habit.—Compact, dense, upright.        -   Vigor.—Less vigorous (slower growing) than most Camellias.        -   Dimensions.—Mature height: approximately 3 meters. Mature            width (spread): approximately 2 meters.        -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 6B.        -   Root system.—Mostly fibrous; can make woody taproot.        -   Propagation.—Propagation is accomplished semi-hardwood stem            cuttings.        -   Time to develop roots.—3-4 months.        -   Air temperature for rooting.—15-25° Centigrade.        -   Crop time.—A well-rooted liner can be produced in the first            year, and a blooming plant in a 1 gallon pot in two years,            with flowering on the previous season's growth. Three to            four years can be required to produce a well-branched,            well-budded, plant in a three gallon container.        -   Disease and pest susceptibility.—‘Classic Pink’ is neither            less nor more susceptible than the species and other            cultivars generally to Camellia flower blight, tea scale,            oyster scale and Camellia scale.-   Trunk:    -   -   Trunk shape.—Cylindrical.        -   Main trunk dimensions.—Up to 15 cm in diameter and 3 meters            in height at maturity.        -   Trunk surface.—Slightly rough.        -   Trunk color.—Greyed-white 156C.        -   Lenticels.—Absent.-   Branches:    -   -   Branching.—Typically one trunk with side branches starting            low and alternately spaced towards the top where multiple            leaders develop.        -   Branch shape.—Cylindrical.        -   Branch surface.—Slightly rough.        -   Branch angle at emergence.—45 degrees.        -   Dimensions of branch of a mature plant.—1 meter in length            and 1-2 cm. in diameter.        -   Branch color.—Colors 174B and 165A are both individually            present on individual mature branches.        -   Internode length.—2.0-2.5 cm. between nodes.-   Foliage:    -   -   Type.—Evergreen.        -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Leaf shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Leaf margins.—Finely serrate.        -   Division.—Simple.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Leaf surfaces (adaxial and abaxial).—Glabrous.        -   Leaf dimensions.—9-11 cm. in length and 4-5 cm. in width.        -   Leaf color (adaxial surface).—139A.        -   Leaf color (abaxial surface).—137C.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Vein color (adaxial surface).—137C.        -   Vein color (abaxial surface).—139A.        -   Attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Petiole color.—141C.        -   Petiole shape.—Round.        -   Petiole surface.—Smooth.        -   Petiole dimensions.—11 mm in length and 2 mm. in width.        -   Fragrance.—None.-   Flowers:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Solitary, formal double (absence of            anthers or stigmas).        -   Attachment.—Sessile.        -   Arrangement.—Flowers occur at end of branches or at 1, 2 or            3 nodes from the branch tip.        -   Flowers per branch.—On average, approximately 16 flowers per            branch; within the range 10 per branch to 25 per branch.        -   Flower shape.—Circular, radially symmetrical.        -   Flower aspect.—Generally facing upwards; occasionally facing            to the side or downwards.        -   Flower persistent or self-cleaning.—Self-cleaning.        -   Flower diameter.—Ranges from 80 mm to 105 mm.        -   Flower depth.—Ranges from 32 mm to 52 mm.        -   Flower color.—Petals (both surfaces) 69D, except white 155B            at base.        -   Petal number.—Ranges from 60-100 petals in each flower.        -   Petal surface.—Smooth, slightly cupped.        -   Petal length (newly opened and flattened).—25 mm.        -   Petal length (oldest petals).—45 mm.        -   Petal width (newly opened and flattened).—18 mm.        -   Petal width (oldest petals).—25 mm.        -   Petal shape.—Obovate.        -   Petal apex.—Cuspidate.        -   Petal base.—Cuneate.        -   Fused or unfused.—Unfused.        -   Petal margin.—Smooth.        -   Bud.—Shape: Cuspidate. Color (sepals): Sepals towards base:            Between 141C and 141D. Sepals near apex: Between 142B and            142C. Dimensions (just prior to opening): 3.6 cm in length            and 2.5 cm. in width.        -   Calyx.—Dimensions: 2.1 cm in depth and 3.2 cm in diameter.            Surface: Finely pubescent. Color: 141C.        -   Sepals.—Eleven in number. Shape: Reniform. Color (both            surfaces): 141C. Dimensions (fully developed flower):            Length: 15 mm; Width: 18 mm. Apex: Emarginate. Margins: Fine            hairs, feathered edge, sometimes brown and dry.        -   Fragrance.—None.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Occasional barely visible malformed stamens, too            small to describe.        -   Anthers.—Occasional tiny, three in number possibly, aborted            anthers at the floral center.        -   Ovary.—None observed.        -   Seed.—None observed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Camellia plant named ‘Classic Pink’ asdescribed and illustrated herein.